Hello from the beautiful and colorful Art of Animation Resort! It’s been a minute since we dined here on something that wasn’t sweet… (Not that we’re complaining. I mean…have you seen THIS COOKIE!?)

Art of Animation

…so we decided to swing by Landscape of Flavors to see if one of our old favorites still stood up to our taste test! It’s time to go “Unda da Sea” — and no, we aren’t talking about visiting The Little Mermaid section of the resort.

Today we were excited to dig into the Shipwreck Angus Bacon Cheeseburger.

Hurricane Hanna’s Menu

This brand new burger is made of short ground rib and brisket, and topped with fried shrimp, bacon, cheddar cheese, and a Cajun remoulade sauce! It’s served with your choice of Waffle Fries or Apple Slaw.

OK, we just told you about an off-the-menu, secret Bell Burger loaded with lobster over at Liberty Tree Tavern. And today we’ve got another specialty burger to share with you! …are you ready for a SPAM BURGER?!? We’re taking you over toCapt. Cooks at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort for this sweet treat.

So on a recent visit to Disney Springs, I checked out Paddlefish — this time in the dining room (as opposed to the top deck bar) to get an overview of some of the menu’s most popular items. And while most of it was good, some of it was great (and one item — spoiler alert! — was just bad).

Paddlefish is a brand new restaurant in an old, established building. You’ll recall that Fulton’s Crab House used to reside here, in the docked, multi-storied Empress Lily on Lake Buena Vista; and actually this spot has been a restaurant since 1977. When Paddlefish opened, guests were greeted with a combination of old and new. Neutral and trendy gray paint gave the restaurant a streamlined look, but some details of old remained, like brass railings and the fabulous sternwheel.

So what do you say? Shall we paddle in?

Paddlefish

Atmosphere

The first floor bar at Paddlefish is a beautiful space, with its curved, recessed ceiling, wall of windows, and various seating arrangements. Definitely a comfortable place to grab a drink or two! [Read more…]

This year’s Food and Wine Classic will take place on Friday, October 18 and Saturday, October 19. The two-day event consists of food and wine tasting booths set up on the resort’s beautiful causeway each evening.

Guests can also take part in a number of special food and beverage seminars for an additional fee. Seminars take place at 4:30PM both days, and the Causeway booths are open from 5:30 until 9:00PM on Friday and Saturday.

In addition, guests can enjoy a complimentary Cocktail 101 seminar three times during each evening on the Causeway as well as live musical entertainment.

Tasting Plate from Shula's Steakhouse

We’ve had the opportunity to attend the event for the last three years, and we’re looking forward to what 2013 holds! To give you an idea of what lies in store for guests of the Food and Wine Classic, let’s take a look at the 2012 event!

Atmosphere

When you first arrive, you’ll most likely need to pick up your tickets at the Check-In Table.

Check In for the Causeway

Here, staff will check for your reservation, and you’ll receive either your tickets or a wristband, as well as a palate plate and a wine glass.

We had wristbands for the event, which meant that we were free to enjoy unlimited trips to each of the tasting stations. If you prefer a ticketed approach, however, you can purchase books of 25 tickets (most of the booth items require between 2 and 6 tickets).

Food and Wine Classic Wristbands and My Seminar Ticket

For this event, tents are lined up the length of the walkway between the Swan and Dolphin Resorts as well as along the walkway behind the Swan. The resorts are located within walking distance of Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

The Causeway Setup

Tables of all sizes are covered with brightly colored tablecloths, and offer guests a place to sit and relax while enjoying their food and drink.

Tables and Booths Ready for Guests

In addition to tables with chairs, guests can also take advantage of high tops if they prefer to stand.

Individual Tables

It wasn’t too long before the crowd began to swell as guests looked forward to tasting a myriad of dishes.

Sunset Ranch Market is a little food court that specializes in some awesome themeing and some pretty “meh” food. 😉

But it’s super convenient — especially if you’re headed toward or back from two of the park’s most popular attractions: Tower of Terror and Rock n Roller Coaster! (Not to mention Fantasmic!) Let’s take a look.

Atmosphere

Rosie’s All American Cafe is located in a primo spot at the crossroads that separate Tower of Terror and Rock n’ Roller Coaster. If you’re looking for a bite to eat while you wait for your FastPass time, you couldn’t ask for a more convenient location.

Rosie's All American Cafe in Sunset Ranch Market

Sunset Ranch Market is an outdoor food court-type set up, themed after LA’s Farmer’s Market. As a result, you have the added benefit of lots of variety here, which is perfect if your group can’t come to consensus about food choices.

Rosie's busy at lunch time

The feel of this area continues the vintage vibe of the park. The setting is World War II-era America, which fits right in with the Studios’ depiction of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

“Rosie” in the restaurant’s name is a reference to Rosie the Riveter, the wartime cultural icon that represented the women who kept the workforce fortified (often in factories) while men were off fighting the war.

Signs on the walls echo the wartime spirit of perseverance.

Signs on the Walls Depict the Restaurant's Theme

One of the most interesting spots in Sunset Ranch Market is the Victory Garden, which is located adjacent to Rosie’s (and happens to be one of the very first restaurant theme elements I wrote about when I started this blog way back in 2009!).

The plot of land pays tribute to the real victory gardens that civilians planted during World War II. The government called upon citizens to plant these gardens in order to supplement food rations, which were necessary to feed servicemen and women stationed all over the globe.

Victory Garden Sign

And this is the real deal! You see real, produce-bearing plants here, like pineapples and peppers. It’s a fantastic visual illustration of history, and a great way that the Studios educates as it entertains.

Life is a highway, and my pit stop this past weekend was Walt Disney World’s brand new Art of Animation Resort in Walt Disney World.

AoA is a value level resort, and like other WDW value hotels the main source of on-site nourishment is a food court, here called Landscape of Flavors.

I gathered dozens (hundreds?) of food photos to share, so you’ll be able to take a look at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert as well as pre-packaged goodies in the photo tour below!

Some of the elements of Landscape of Flavors will be familiar to those who have been to other Disney hotel food courts. There are multiple lines to order different types of food. There are self-serve soda and condiment stations past the registers, toasters for guest use, and a mug wash sink for rinsing your refillable mugs.

And the sides of the service area are lined with refrigerator cases of beverages and a limited selection of prepared items.

As for the actual food, Disney has tried to step it up a notch, offering fresher and more customizable options than in the other resorts. But before I get to that, here’s a tour so you can get the lay of the Landscape.

Overview Photos

You get to the restaurant through the Ink & Paint Shop gift store.

Ink and Paint Shop Gift Store

The seating areas are bright with blond wood tables and chairs.

Seating Areas

Overhead lights represent each of the four films highlighted at AoA: [Read more…]